Taiwan Won't Rule Out China Unification

[Rose Siding]

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's president pledged Thursday he would not shut the door on eventual unification with rival China if Beijing expressed goodwill _one of his most specific pronouncements on the issue.

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, long viewed as rejecting the possibility of unification, clarified his position at a meeting with James Soong, leader of the opposition People First Party. They signed a joint declaration afterward.

The two have held widely diverging views on handling communist China, which claims this self-ruled, democratic island is part of its territory and threatens war if Taipei declares formal independence. China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949.

Unification is a passionate top priority for China's leaders, who have routinely berated Chen as a traitor to Beijing.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-taiwan-china,0,3316376.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Clinton to meet Taiwan's Chen during visit

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Former U.S. president Bill Clinton will meet Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian during a whirlwind visit to the island on Sunday that could annoy China, Taiwan's arch rival.

China views Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunited by force if necessary and objects to any participation by the island in international affairs, including visits by senior government officials from most countries.

Clinton will arrive in Taipei on Sunday at the invitation of the Taiwan government and deliver a speech on democracy and security, said Michel Lu, foreign ministry spokesman.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/050224/137/2jsxf.html

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1. What can the Chinese government do for Taiwan that Taiwan can't do itself?

Involvement of the Chinese government in the lives of the Taiwanese adds nothing to their lives.